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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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World Breastfeeding Week takes place at the beginning of August
The entitlement to breastfeeding breaks under the Maternity Protection Acts was extended from six months to two years through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 last month, it was revealed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman.
The announcement comes during World Breastfeeding Week 2023 which takes place from August 1-7 this year.
The theme of this year's week is ‘Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!’.
Under the Act, staff are entitled to time off without loss of pay for breastfeeding breaks at work for up to one hour per normal working day. Breastfeeding breaks may be taken in the form of one break of 60 minutes, or two breaks of 30 minutes each, or three breaks of 20 minutes each, or in such other manner as agreed by the employee and their manager.
Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman said: "The theme of World Breastfeeding Week this year is ‘Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!’ and the extension of breastfeeding breaks means that women going back to work after maternity leave are supported to continue breastfeeding even after they return to work. Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the EU and Growing Up in Ireland data shows a link between women returning to work and stopping breastfeeding. Access to breastfeeding breaks is a valuable tool for supporting extended breastfeeding for women returning to work after having a baby.’
The extension of breastfeeding breaks was also an important commitment under the First 5 Strategy which has now been met.
World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year and is supported by the WHO and UNICEF.
With a different theme each year, it aims to promote the enabling environments that help women to breastfeed – including support in the community and the workplace, with adequate protections in government policies and laws - as well as sharing information on breastfeeding benefits and strategies.
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